Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 73: Making an Emergency Call (continued)
Understanding this deepens our appreciation of Amitabha’s compassion. The proviso that states -“Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions and slander the right Dharma,” further highlights the Buddha’s original intent, to save even those who have strayed the furthest.
This is like a fire department which emphasizes fire safety because its duty is to extinguish fires. Departments which are not devoted to firefighting will not focus on fire prevention measures.
Of all the 48 vows of Amitabha Buddha, only the 18th Vow contains the proviso about the five gravest sins and slandering the Dharma. This is because the 19th and 20th vows do not function in the same way. Only the 18th Vow, made with the intention of delivering all sentient beings to Amitabha’s Pure Land, can
ultimately save those who have committed the gravest offenses. Therefore, only by reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha in accordance with the 18th Vow, can the worst offenders find salvation.
這樣來理解，我們會更加感動於彌陀的慈悲，正因為有了「唯除五逆，誹謗正 法」這八個字，才更加顯示出：阿彌陀佛發願的本意，正是要救度逆謗的眾 生。
如同消防隊的職責是滅火，它才特別注意防火安全，不是消防隊、沒有消防 的職能，也就不會要求防火。
第十八願的職能正是為了救度（攝取）五逆謗法，所以才說唯除（抑止）五逆謗 法。第十九願不說，因為第十九願沒有這種功能；第二十願不說，因為第二十 願也沒有這種救度的功能。四十八願中只有第十八願說「唯除五逆，誹謗正 法」，因為只有第十八願念佛才有這種救度五逆謗法眾生的功能。
Namo Amituofo!
